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The smartphone market is flooded with options, making it difficult for brands to stand out. However, OnePlus has managed to carve a niche for itself by delivering premium features at a reasonable price point. The OnePlus 13R, a part of the company’s flagship R-series, aims to provide a premium experience while maintaining affordability. In this review, we’ll dive deep into the OnePlus 13R’s performance, design, camera, battery, and overall user experience to see if it lives up to its promises, with a special focus on its endurance and the surprising discrepancies that come with it.
Design: A Premium Feel Without the Premium Price
The OnePlus 13R doesn’t stray far from the design language OnePlus has been following for a while. Its sleek, glossy back cover and modern aesthetics immediately make it feel like a high-end device. The phone features a glass back that is smooth to the touch, with the signature OnePlus logo neatly centered. OnePlus has managed to avoid overly flashy branding, offering a clean design that appeals to a broad range of users.
At the front, you’ll find a large 6.7-inch AMOLED display with a punch-hole camera cutout at the top left corner. The bezels around the screen are minimal, giving it a modern look and maximizing screen real estate. The device feels solid in hand, and while it’s not the lightest phone around, it’s well-balanced and comfortable to hold. The matte finish on the back panel is fingerprint-resistant, which is a welcome feature for a phone that is as prone to smudges as any other glossy-backed device.
One feature that stands out in the design is the placement of the fingerprint scanner. Unlike many devices in this price range, OnePlus has opted for an under-display optical fingerprint sensor, which adds to the premium feel. It works well, unlocking the phone with a quick touch, but it’s worth noting that, at times, it can feel a bit inconsistent.
The OnePlus 13R also features IP54 water resistance, which is a nice touch, but it’s not quite on par with the IP68 ratings found in the more premium smartphones. Still, it provides a reasonable level of protection against dust and water splashes.
Display: Stunning AMOLED Screen with Impressive Brightness
The OnePlus 13R features a 6.7-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 2412 x 1080 pixels. The display is one of the standout features of the phone. The colors are vibrant, the contrast is deep, and the blacks are truly deep, thanks to the nature of AMOLED panels. Whether you’re watching videos, browsing photos, or just reading text, the display offers an excellent viewing experience.
OnePlus has also equipped the 13R with a 120Hz refresh rate, making navigation smoother than on many phones in this price range. Scrolling through social media, playing games, or just swiping through menus feels incredibly fluid. The refresh rate enhances the overall user experience, making the phone feel snappier than competitors that are still stuck at 60Hz.
The brightness of the display is also commendable. With a peak brightness of 1100 nits, the screen is easily visible outdoors, even under direct sunlight. This makes the phone great for outdoor use, whether you’re watching content or navigating with GPS.
However, the display isn’t perfect. The resolution, though sharp, could have been higher for a more pixel-dense experience, especially considering the screen size. It’s not a deal-breaker by any means, but when compared to some of its competitors offering QHD+ displays, it does fall a bit short.
Performance: A Strong Mid-Range Processor, But Some Limitations
Under the hood, the OnePlus 13R is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset, which is coupled with either 8GB or 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM. This chip is part of Qualcomm’s flagship line of processors, offering excellent performance across a range of tasks. The 8+ Gen 1 is known for its impressive power efficiency, and in terms of raw performance, it doesn’t disappoint.
Day-to-day tasks like browsing, messaging, and social media usage are handled with ease. Multitasking is smooth, and apps load quickly. You can also run a good number of apps in the background without noticing any slowdowns or stutters. Gaming is another area where the OnePlus 13R shines. Titles like Call of Duty Mobile, PUBG, and Asphalt 9 run smoothly at high settings, with little to no frame drops. The phone also stays relatively cool during extended gaming sessions, thanks to the efficient cooling system.
OnePlus has also optimized its software well. The OxygenOS, based on Android 13, offers a clean and user-friendly interface, with plenty of customization options. The software feels fast and responsive, and OnePlus has continued to offer a near-stock Android experience with minimal bloatware, which is a big plus for users who prefer a cleaner interface.
However, there is a noticeable discrepancy when it comes to the phone’s performance in prolonged usage. While the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 is a powerful processor, there is a slight throttling under heavy loads. Extended gaming sessions or intensive multitasking can cause a slight dip in performance after a while, something not seen in higher-end devices with more advanced cooling solutions. It’s not a major issue, but it’s something to keep in mind for power users.
Battery Life: Incredible Endurance, But With a Caveat
The OnePlus 13R comes equipped with a large 5000mAh battery, which is paired with 80W SuperVOOC fast charging. In terms of battery endurance, the OnePlus 13R is a powerhouse. With moderate use, which includes tasks like browsing, social media, and watching videos, the phone can easily last a full day and then some. In fact, even with more intensive usage, you can expect to get through the day with a significant amount of juice left over.
One of the standout features is the 80W fast charging. With this technology, the OnePlus 13R can go from 0 to 50% in just about 10 minutes, and a full charge takes less than 30 minutes. This is incredibly convenient for users who need to quickly recharge during the day, and it’s one of the best fast-charging systems available in this price segment.
However, there’s a surprising discrepancy in the battery performance. Despite the impressive endurance and fast charging capabilities, the phone does not support wireless charging, which feels like an oversight given the price. Wireless charging has become a standard feature for mid-range and premium smartphones, and its absence in the OnePlus 13R is puzzling. It’s unlikely to be a dealbreaker for most users, but for those who are used to the convenience of wireless charging, it’s a notable omission.
Camera: A Mixed Bag of Good and Not-So-Good
When it comes to the camera, the OnePlus 13R offers a triple-camera setup: a 50MP primary sensor, an 8MP ultrawide lens, and a 2MP macro sensor. The rear camera performance is generally good, but not without its flaws.
The 50MP primary camera is capable of capturing detailed and sharp images in well-lit conditions. Colors are accurate, and dynamic range is good. In low-light situations, the camera struggles a bit, with noise creeping into photos and a slight loss of detail. The Night Mode does help, but it’s not as effective as the more premium smartphones on the market.
The 8MP ultrawide camera is a nice addition, but it doesn’t offer the same level of detail as the primary sensor. The shots are usable, but there is noticeable distortion at the edges of the frame, and the colors are a bit off compared to the primary sensor.
The 2MP macro camera is an afterthought. The images it produces are lackluster, and it’s clear that OnePlus added it just to check off the “macro camera” box. It’s not a lens that will be used often, and its inclusion feels somewhat redundant.
For selfies, the 16MP front camera does a solid job. It takes good, sharp photos with natural skin tones and decent detail, but it’s not particularly impressive. It’s perfectly fine for social media selfies, but those looking for exceptional selfie performance will be better served by some of the higher-end options in the market.
The Surprising Discrepancy: Software and Updates
The OnePlus 13R’s software is one of its strongest features, offering a clean, bloat-free experience. OxygenOS has always been loved for its smoothness and speed, and the OnePlus 13R is no exception. However, there’s a discrepancy when it comes to software updates. Despite OnePlus’s reputation for providing timely updates in the past, the 13R’s software support might not be as consistent as users might expect. The phone is promised two major Android updates, but given the company’s track record with mid-range devices, there may be delays in the rollout of updates, something that detracts from the overall value of the device in the long term.
Verdict: A Smartphone with Incredible Endurance but Room for Improvement
The OnePlus 13R is a solid mid-range smartphone that offers excellent performance, an outstanding display, and incredible battery life. The 80W fast charging and AMOLED display are among the best features, while the phone’s design feels premium. It’s clear that OnePlus has made an effort to deliver a flagship-like experience at a more accessible price point.
However, there are some discrepancies. The camera, while competent, doesn’t live up to the expectations set by the device’s other features. The absence of wireless charging feels like an oversight, especially in this price range, and the slight throttling in performance during extended use may disappoint power users.
In conclusion, the OnePlus 13R offers amazing endurance and delivers in several key areas, but it’s not without its shortcomings. For those looking for a well-rounded smartphone with solid battery life and fast charging, the 13R is a great option. But, for those who prioritize cutting-edge camera performance or features like wireless charging, this phone may not be the best choice.
